According to a report Sunday on BoxingScene.com, Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0 8 KO's), the current WBA super bantamweight champion, is thrilled that all the chips have fallen into place, opening the door for his unification bout with the WBO champ Nonito Donaire. On April 13, the two will meet, the only question remaining is where the contest will take place. The most likely locations are New York, Texas and California.
Top Rank had hoped to place the event at Madison Square Garden, but it is not available on that date. Radio Center Music Hall in New York is another possibility for the fight, which will be aired on HBO.
"The Garden is occupied on that date, so we have to look elsewhere, preferably in New York, but can't rule out Los Angeles and Texas," said Top Rank rep Ricardo Jiminez.
Guillermo Rigondeaux, who has won two Olympic gold medals, has been trying to secure this match for quite some time. However, his co-promoters , Caribe Promotions and Top Rank have been involved in a legal dispute. Finally, those issues have been resolved, allowing the fight with Nonito Donaire to be made.
"I am very happy that finally we're going to have this fight that so many people have been waiting for. We have gone through some difficult moments, but common sense and good faith have prevailed. My career will be stronger now that Caribe and Top Rank have agreed to [work together]. Now I can look at this date of April 13th without any worries. Just tell Nonito to prepare for what's coming," Rigondeaux said.
This fight will generate a lot of buzz in the boxing community as it features two of the hottest fighters currently competing. Guillermo Rigondeaux is considered to be one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time and has yet to taste defeat as a professional. Donaire is on an impressive run, rapidly climbing the pound-for-pound rankings.
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